"Why did you take my son away from me?" wailed the aggrieved mother of death-in-custody victim N Dharmendran, 31, during the funeral service at their home in Bandar Tun Razak , Kuala Lumpur, today.
Saraswathi, 58, was lamenting that there was nobody to look after her now, with her son being no more.
Wringing her hands through her hair hysterically, Saraswathi (centre in picture) was shackled with grief as she sat beside her son's casket, her body wrecked by great sobs, cheeks damp with tears.
Her husband, G Narayanasamy, 59, only looked on silently, his eyes welling with tears, pressing his hands together in prayer.
Saraswathi's bereaved cries were not alone in the crowd of some 100 people who came to pay their respects to Dharmendran.
She screamed several times, "Why don't you (God) take me instead?" and tenderly cupped her son's stiff face in her hands, and then murmuring softly to the body.
Her daughter-in-law, J Marry, 28, seated in a chair by her late husband's feet, grim-faced, was too deflated to accept hisuntimely death after the torrent of events following his arrest.
At times, Marry would touch his feet, or move to his side, her hands trembling as she brushed his hair, his cold body and his cheeks.
Like Dharmendran, her eyes appeared devoid of life.
Dharmendran'sbruised and battered corpse, on which were found numerous rotan beatings and staples, was draped with sashes of white cloth, leaving only his face visible.
Garlands of flowers were placed across his chest, blanketing the entire length of the casket.
Family members, friends and strangers crowded round his physical remains in a circle, an unspoken understanding hovering above their heads, their thoughts on the youth who was the victim of death while in police custody.
Perhaps now, the soul of Dharmendran could have been at peace.
Family lawyer N Surendran called for an independent police force to investigate Dharmendran's death, saying he believes the police who had detained Dharmendran were responsible for his death.
Saraswathi, 58, was lamenting that there was nobody to look after her now, with her son being no more.
Wringing her hands through her hair hysterically, Saraswathi (centre in picture) was shackled with grief as she sat beside her son's casket, her body wrecked by great sobs, cheeks damp with tears.Her husband, G Narayanasamy, 59, only looked on silently, his eyes welling with tears, pressing his hands together in prayer.
Saraswathi's bereaved cries were not alone in the crowd of some 100 people who came to pay their respects to Dharmendran.
She screamed several times, "Why don't you (God) take me instead?" and tenderly cupped her son's stiff face in her hands, and then murmuring softly to the body.
Her daughter-in-law, J Marry, 28, seated in a chair by her late husband's feet, grim-faced, was too deflated to accept hisuntimely death after the torrent of events following his arrest.
At times, Marry would touch his feet, or move to his side, her hands trembling as she brushed his hair, his cold body and his cheeks.
Like Dharmendran, her eyes appeared devoid of life.
Dharmendran'sbruised and battered corpse, on which were found numerous rotan beatings and staples, was draped with sashes of white cloth, leaving only his face visible.Garlands of flowers were placed across his chest, blanketing the entire length of the casket.
Family members, friends and strangers crowded round his physical remains in a circle, an unspoken understanding hovering above their heads, their thoughts on the youth who was the victim of death while in police custody.
Perhaps now, the soul of Dharmendran could have been at peace.
Family lawyer N Surendran called for an independent police force to investigate Dharmendran's death, saying he believes the police who had detained Dharmendran were responsible for his death.
Take prompt action, PM, home minister told
"I want them to investigate why they covered up the case by saying he died of asthma," Surendran, who is also PKR vice-president and newly-elected Padang Serai MP, said at a press conference outside the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters later this afternoon.
Surendran (left) also called on both Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take prompt action on the matter.
"They hold the power to bring about changes so no one else will die in lock-ups," he added.
One week is all the time the police should need, Surendran said, adding that if there was no response by then, a protest for justice would begin, outside federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman.
Dharmendran was picked up by police on May 11, after he lodged a report at the Pudu police station about his involvement in a fight. He has been in remand since that day, at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters.
His parents and wife had not been told of Dharmendran's arrest and were only informed of the matter on Sunday and saw him at the police lock-up on the same day. The victim was also known to have asthma.
Dharmendran was supposed to be released on bail yesterday. However, his wife received a call from the police, who informed her that her husband was dead and asked her to identify the body at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
Surendran (left) also called on both Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take prompt action on the matter."They hold the power to bring about changes so no one else will die in lock-ups," he added.
One week is all the time the police should need, Surendran said, adding that if there was no response by then, a protest for justice would begin, outside federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman.
Dharmendran was picked up by police on May 11, after he lodged a report at the Pudu police station about his involvement in a fight. He has been in remand since that day, at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters.
His parents and wife had not been told of Dharmendran's arrest and were only informed of the matter on Sunday and saw him at the police lock-up on the same day. The victim was also known to have asthma.
Dharmendran was supposed to be released on bail yesterday. However, his wife received a call from the police, who informed her that her husband was dead and asked her to identify the body at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.